Timber iQ February - March 2019 // Issue: 42 | Page 26

PROJECTS
The 117-year-old wooden bridge was the only bridge of its kind in South Africa at the time.
Many rivers to cross for
bridge restoration
Like an aquatic phoenix, the Cape's historic Milnerton Wooden Bridge
and Commodore II shipwreck rise again from their watery grave.
By Candace Sofianos King
F
ollowing a well-planned seven-hour operation, the City
of Cape Town’s Environmental Management
Department, together with a contractor, removed the
last remains of the Commodore II shipwreck from the Diep
River in Milnerton in November 2018.
The wreck weighed about 21 tons and is estimated to be
about 14m long and 6.8m wide. The wreck (which remained
intact throughout the operation) was relocated to City-
owned land near the Lagoon Beach Hotel.
CONTEXT TO THE OPERATION
Since the Commodore II shipwreck was uncovered during a
winter storm in 2008, there were various attempts to
relocate the old lady’s remains as it could pose a danger to
boats in the river and it was considered as important
historical evidence.
The recent relocation of the Commodore shipwreck was
therefore included in the scope of work and budget for the
rehabilitation and restoration of the historical Milnerton
Wooden Bridge because of its close proximity to the bridge.
During the months of preparations for the operation, the
City’s Environmental Management Department had to obtain
a permit from the South African Heritage Resources Agency
(SAHRA) to allow the relocation because the remains are of a
24 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019 //
wreck that is more than 60 years old and SAHRA considers it
to be worthy of conservation. The Commodore II is seen as
archaeological material under the National Heritage
Resources Act (NHRA).
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMMODORE II
The Commodore II was built in 1919 in Seattle in the US.
She is believed to have featured in the 1935 American
blockbuster film Mutiny on the Bounty, with Clark Gable.
Apart from this, she was also used to ferry coal during
World War 2. Shortly after, the grandson of President Paul
Kruger bought the schooner and sailed to Buenos Aires in
Argentina. It is here where her fortunes took a turn for
the worse.
When going up the River Plate, the ship was grounded on
a mud bank and the damage to the hull took 40 days to
repair. The Commodore II also caught fire but fortunately it
was extinguished quickly.
On her return, disaster struck again when the boat was hit
by a heavy storm which left the mast, rigging and sails all
severely damaged. Emergency repairs led the vessel and
crew safely back to Cape Town, where the ship was stripped
and the remains left to the mercy of Milnerton's breakers.
See more on page 26
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